Cape Elizabeth, South Portland football teams win again; Scarborough falls just short

With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, local football teams remain in the middle of the playoff discussion.

Cape Elizabeth won its fifth straight game Saturday night, erupting for 34 straight points to erase an early deficit in a home triumph over Marshwood.

In the first-ever meeting between the schools, the Capers went up 6-0 early on a short TD run by Andrew Lavallee. The Hawks then returned the ensuing kickoff for a score, but that only served to awaken Cape Elizabeth. Late in the first quarter, quarterback Connor Maguire hit Derek Roberts for a 57-yard scoring pass.

“We don’t pass the ball much, but when we do, we try to keep it as effective as possible and tonight it worked out pretty well,” said Maguire, who only completed three passes, but they were all for touchdowns. “Obviously, it was a team effort. Our receivers did a good job getting open tonight. I was happy I could put the ball in their hands and let them run.”

In the second period, the Capers got TDs from Donald Clark (27-yard run), Bill Brooks (45-yard pass from Maguire) and Roberts (6-yard pass from Maguire) to lead, 33-7. Brooks returned an on-sides kick to open the second half 52-yards for a score.

“We did expect an on-sides kick,” said Brooks. “We worked on it in practice yesterday. I said if they kick it to me, I’m not going to fall on it. I’m going to see what I can do with it. If I got tackled, I got tackled.”

“The guys don’t play too emotionally high or get nervous or scared,” Capers coach Aaron Filieo said. “We’ll play anyone at anytime and play our best.”

Cape Elizabeth (5-1 and third behind Wells and Mountain Valley in the latest Western Class B Crabtree Points standings) is at 2-4 Fryeburg Saturday and closes at home against defending Class B champion Mountain Valley Oct. 21.

“We have to get healthy,” Filieo said. “That’s always our thing. We’re getting there. With injuries you find guys to step up and get experience. Mountain Valley’s going to be a tough test for us. I think Wells is playing well. It should be a fun, interesting postseason.”

Also riding a five-game win streak, its first this century, is South Portland. The Red Riots enjoyed their third straight romp last Thursday, 35-7, over visiting Kennebunk.

After a scoreless first period, South Portland was up 14-7 at halftime thanks to a short TD run from Joey DiBiase and a Michael Salvatore-to-Dan Medici scoring pass. Two Salvatore-to-Logan Gaddar TD passes in the third period opened it up and the Red Riots accounted for the final score when Salvatore scored on a run in the fourth.

“We did well coming back from a short week,” said South Portland coach Steve Stinson. “Kennebunk is good defensively and very aggressive. We kept knocking. Eventually our balance on offense was the difference. That’s our biggest strength right now.

“Michael’s done a nice job. He’s a great kid. He’s embraced the quarterback position. He’s a leader. The kids have such confidence in him. He’s really enjoying football. His throwing is coming along. He does great things with his feet.”

The Red Riots (5-1) are second to Cheverus in the Western A Crabtrees. They go to resurgent 3-3 Windham Friday and close at Portland.

“We’re very excited for the Windham game,” Stinson said. “I told the kids that every game from here on out is a playoff game. Windham’s very good defensively. They’re extremely well coached. They’re finding their feel offensively. They’re physical. It’ll be a great contest. All we can do now is take care of ourselves. People are feeling good about the program. There’s so much pride now from second grade through the 12th grade.”

Scarborough is suddenly in jeopardy of missing the postseason after dropping its third in a row last Thursday, 14-7, to visiting Deering.

The Red Storm gave up touchdowns on the Rams’ first two possessions, then didn’t surrender another point. Scarborough pulled within 14-7 when Dillon Russo hit David Conceison with a TD pass in the second quarter, but despite ample opportunities, couldn’t draw even and went down to the frustrating defeat.

“Once we settled down on defense, it was kind of back and forth,” said Scarborough coach Lance Johnson. “We just couldn’t get it done. We had our chances. We had great field position. We played good defense and kept punting the ball deep. I thought sooner or later, we’d get one to tie it up, but we just couldn’t get one when we needed to.”

The Red Storm (2-4 and 11th in the Western A Crabtrees, only eight teams qualify for the playoffs) has a great chance to earn some big points Saturday when it visits 5-1 Thornton Academy. Scarborough finishes the regular season at Gorham.

“I’m pretty sure we have to win out,” Johnson said. “I don’t think three wins will get us in. We have two left and we have to win them both.”